Cannabinoids refer to chemical compounds which can be found in the cannabis plant and brings along therapeutic effects. Two of the most popular cannabinoids are CBD and THC. However today we are going to discuss CBGa or cannabigerolic acid which is created from the unison of geranyl pyrophosphate and olivetolic acid. Both these organic compounds can be traced in the cannabis plant and serves as a building block in the formation of CBCa, CBDa, CBG and THCa.
CBGa serves as the foundational compound in a cannabis flower. It lies at the very top of the cascade reaction and leads to the production of three popular cannabinoid lines —THCA or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, CBDA or cannabidiolic acid and CBCA or cannabichromenic acid. These three acids ultimately take the form of THC, CBD and CBC compounds.
Means Of Consuming CBGa
The best way of consuming CBGa is ingesting raw hemp i.e. freshly harvested Cannabis sativa having next to none THC. The quantity of CBGa remains higher on the freshly harvested plants. Regular exposure to light, heat, decarboxylation and oxidation synthesize the acidic components of cannabinoids and diminishes the level of CBGa.
Medical Benefits Of CBGa
Adequate research has not been conducted on CBGa till date which leaves scope for further studies to take shape in days to come. These can broaden our perspectives on its potential applications. But as of now, CBGa has proved to be beneficial in the following fields of healthcare:
Diabetes
According to research studies, CBGa can serve as a potent treatment option for diabetes. Our body releases the aldose Reductase Enzyme, which serves as a major trigger of oxidative stress. This in turn causes diabetic complications and even leads to diabetes induced cardiovascular disease in extreme cases. A study was reported by doctors in 2018 wherein the high level of non-psychotropic cannabinoids present in whole plant extracts of Cannabis was proved to be beneficial in treating diabetic complications.
Metabolic Ailments
A study was conducted in 2019 for taking a look at the role of CBGa in regulating metabolism. This is done by activating the PPARs or peroxisome proliferator activated receptors. People tend to develop high levels of triglycerides or cholesterol if the PPARs do not function in the right way. However, CBGa can activate the PPAR receptors for stimulating lipid metabolism and ultimately bringing down the level of excess lipid accumulation. However, this study has not been conducted till date on humans and animals which leaves back loopholes in its validity.
Cardiovascular Ailments
Diabetic patients often succumb to cardiovascular disease which is triggered by oxidative stress caused from the release of aldose Reductase Enzyme in our body. CBGa can inhibit the release of this enzyme for curing heart and similar problems.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Researchers studied the effect of CBGa on curing colitis in mice in the year 2013. This disease was induced in mice who were then administered with CBGa for examining its effect on the intestinal cells which were extracted from the affected mice. CBGa brought down the level of nitric acid production, reduced the production of oxidizing agents and even mitigated the severity level of colitis in mice. Such results lead scientists to believe that CBGa can produce similar results even in human patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease.
Colon Cancer
Colorectal cancer is the fourth leading cause of death caused due to cancer. CBGa extracted out of cannabis plants brings along cytotoxic effects and serves as the ultimate nemesis of colon cancer cells. It has also proved to be helpful in hastening early death of cancer cells while even arresting the cancer cell cycle. Although there is scope for further research on this topic, the studies conducted till date substantiate the role of CBGa in treating colon cancer cells and preventing the proliferation of polyps.
Legality Of CBGa
It is impossible to give a clear-cut answer pertaining to the legality of cannabis as well as its derivatives in the United States. Although new legislation is taking shape with every passing day, a lot of confusion still exists pertaining to its legal standpoint. CBGa is non-psychoactive in nature which groups it under the same umbrella as that of other cannabinoids like CBD.
Final Words
CBGa has received the nomenclature of a mother cannabinoid as no other cannabinoids would exist without some level of CBGa. In stark contrast to other cannabinoids like THC, CBGa doesn’t induce psychoactive effects on being ingested. Hemp has substantially high levels of CBGa when compared to peer cannabis plant strains. Maybe this is why it has low levels of THC concentrations compared to marijuana strain. Cannabinoids have found massive acceptance in the field of medical science and are increasingly being used for treating patients around the globe. Producing cannabinoids is an extremely cost intensive process and scientists are trying to circumvent the same by opting for biosynthetic methods through CBGa.
